Theme: Effort and progress

The red fish

Once upon a time there was a red fish that lived in a beautiful lake, where other fish also lived.

A small channel used to bring water to the lake constantly.

On the other side, another channel, also narrow, drained the excess water and so the lake was always kept with the same amount of renewed water.

Fish lived very well there. Effortlessly, they were able to feed on leaves, insects, and larvae. They didn't need to swim much, or strain for anything. Some even lived propped up on the bottom or on the edge of the lake, lazy.

However, over time, the conditions of the lake changed.

Sometimes the flow of water, which reached the lake, was greatly reduced, or even stopped. Sometimes there was no rain, other times something blocked the passage of water. When this happened, the fish began to feel sick. The water was dirty, dark, with little oxygen...

But the fish did nothing but wait for the problem to be solved. When this happened, they became relieved and quickly forgot about the problem, which was becoming more and more frequently.

Only the red fish, which was very smart, was worried.

– What if it happens again? What if it lasts longer? Will we be able to survive? Is our lake still the best place for us? – he thought.

Red tried to talk to the others, but no one wanted to think about problems.

Alone, he started looking for a solution. He wanted to find another, safer place for them to live.

First, he learned to jump out of the water. To try to see what he had around the lake. He would pick up momentum and powerfully take great leaps. But he couldn't see any other lakes nearby.

The other fish were annoyed by his agitated behavior and complained, telling him to stop.

The red fish then began to observe how the lake worked and realized that it would be easy to follow the water coming out of the lake, following the current. The water had to go somewhere, and he wanted to know where.

There was only one problem: the channel through which the water flowed was small and tight for Red.

But he didn't give up. He decided to keep his body thinner, to get through. And so, he started to eat less. Just enough to not be hungry and stay healthy.

One day he realized that he was thin enough to fit in the canal. And so, with a little effort, and the help of the water, he began to move out of the lake.

The red fish then began a long journey. But a very pleasant trip. The narrow channel soon widened and received water from other channels as well. Then this channel, already much larger, ended up into a river. And the river, which was also small, in the beginning, became large, with a huge volume of water and animals of various species.

All along the way, the red fish got to know incredible landscapes, plants, and animals. He marveled at everything he saw.

The red fish came to live in that great river. There he learned amazing things, made good friends, and felt safe and very happy.

But one thought still bothered him. How were his former companions? Would they be okay?

Always thinking about them, and feeling the commitment to offer them his experience, the red fish decided to return.

And so, he made the return trip, this time with much more effort, because he swam against the current. He had to squeeze through the small channel. But his will was big, and he succeeded.

He arrived, tired but happy, at his old home.

However, his happiness was short-lived. The other fish paid him no attention. Red told about the river and told of the differences and advantages he found there, but the others didn't seem to believe or care.

The red fish tried to explain the dangers they ran by continuing there. He encouraged them to diet and make an effort to fit into the lake's small outlet channel. He assured everyone that it was well worth it.

But the fish in the lake, settled as they were, laughed as if Red was proposing something absurd or impossible.

Disappointed with the reaction of his companions, the red fish decided to leave. There was nothing else he could do. Once again, he made the long journey.

Arriving at the river, he found his friends and well-being again.

He returned to live happily and peacefully. The river was his home now.

Every now and then he thought of the fish in the pond.

He worried about them, especially when he heard that there had been no rain for a long time.

So, he prayed, asking God for their lives and for them to understand in time, that without effort, no one progresses.

(Adapted from an Egyptian tale.)

Translation:
Larissa Martine - larissa_am@hotmail.com

marcelapradacontato@gmail.com